The couple decided to delay filing for divorce when she found out she had cancer and needed to stay on his insurance. But after she was unable to continue working and the bills started piling up, she said they chose to declare bankruptcy.

How to Avoid Debt During a Hardship

Whether it’s a job loss, divorce, medical emergency or other crisis, hardships can happen unexpectedly and can result in serious financial consequences.

Here are some ways to help you weather rough waters while keeping your financial boat afloat.

1. Budget for a Reduced Income

If you were getting by on two incomes, the sudden loss of one of them — whether it’s due to a layoff, an injury or separation — could cause real anxiety when it comes to figuring out how to cover your bills.

It’s not the time to panic. It is the time to budget.

Quickly assess where you are financially by writing down your current income and expenses on one page. Need some help getting started? Follow these five steps to manage your money on a reduced income.

2. Enroll in a Credit Card Hardship Program

A credit card hardship program is basically just a payment plan for your credit card — albeit one that’s probably more forgiving than your current payment schedule.

Programs vary by lender, so it’s important that you call yours to ask about the terms and explain why you need temporary relief. It might not be the most pleasant call, but it’s better than emerging from a crisis only to find a mountain of credit card debt on the other side.

5. Negotiate Medical Bills

An emergency medical situation can be overwhelming, confusing and exhausting — not to mention financially draining.

As hard as it may be to believe, healthcare institutions aren’t out to intimidate you and take all your money — at least, not in the beginning. And almost all of them will accept less than the full amount owed — but you have to ask.

6. Set Up a Plan for Your Student Loans

A crisis is not the time to stick your head in the sand, particularly when it comes to student loans.

Unlike credit card debt or medical debt, debt from federal student loans can follow you until death. And if you default on a student loan — that happens after you’ve missed payments for 270 days (or about nine months) — the government can collect on the debt by garnishing your wages or income tax return refunds.

But if you lose a source of income suddenly and you’re facing payments on your federal student loans, you can ask for a break.

Pro Tip

If it’s all too much, student loan forgiveness or discharge are options for wiping out your debt. But they’re not quick fixes: These programs typically take years and have specific qualifications.

None of these options will wipe out your student loan debt and can pile on additional interest, but they can give you the necessary breathing room after a tragedy to gather yourself financially and get back on track.

And surviving a hardship with less debt will make the next crisis that much easier to weather.

Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a staff writer/editor at The Penny Hoarder. Read her bio and other work here, then catch her on Twitter @TiffanyWendeln.